Richard Holbrooke
Former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations
Exclusive Representation by Greater Talent Network
The New York Times hails Holbrooke as a "Master of impossible missions!" A diplomat with real-world corporate understanding, he defines the art of negotiation in both business and diplomatic settings. Holbrooke secured his reputation as the one of the world's premiere negotiators by arranging an unprecedented international agreement bringing the U.S. back into good standing with the United Nations, persuading U.N. members to reduce the U.S. share of dues and assessments. This led the U.S. Congress to release almost $1 billion in unpaid U.N. assessments and enlisted the aid of Ted Turner to ante up the balance. This event brought Holbrooke a standing ovation at the Senate Foreign Relations Committee led by one of the U.N.'s strongest congressional critics, Senator Jesse Helms.
Difficult assignments are nothing new to the man who was chief negotiator at the 1995 Dayton Peace Agreement, which ended the war in Bosnia and for which he has received numerous awards, including seven Nobel Peace Prize nominations. His best-selling account of that historic negotiation, To End a War, was named one of the eleven best books of 1998 by The New York Times.
In addition to his long career in diplomatic service, Holbrooke's experience includes stints as vice chairman of CS First Boston and as managing director of Lehman Brothers, where he utilized his leadership and strategic planning expertise to guide their growth nationally and globally.
He describes negotiating tactics and styles, giving invaluable insight into the use of teamwork, perseverance, bluff, bluster and preparation to achieve corporate and personal goals. Drawing on his experience with highly volatile situations, he discusses managing crises through leadership and determination. Sharing behind-the-scenes stories of delicate international negotiations, Holbrooke enlightens audiences with the considerations that must be taken when guiding vital American national interests.
Holbrooke served as the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, where he was also a member of President Clinton's cabinet, from 1999 to 2001. In that capacity and others, he played a central role in the development of U.S. policy toward the United Nations, the Balkans, Africa, Asia, the Middle East and humanitarian crisis issues such as AIDS.
As Assistant Secretary of State for Europe from 1994 to 1996, Holbrooke was chief architect of the momentous 1995 Dayton peace agreement that ended the war in Bosnia. From 1993 to 1994 he was U.S. Ambassador to Germany. He later served as President Clinton's Special Envoy to Bosnia and Kosovo and as Special Envoy to Cyprus on a pro-bono basis while a private citizen. From 1977 to 1981 he was Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs and was in charge of U.S. relations with China when Sino-American relations were normalized in 1978. After joining the Foreign Service in 1962, he held assignments in Vietnam, the State Department and the Johnson White House.
Holbrooke has written numerous articles and two books: To End a War, a memoir of the Dayton negotiations, and, as co-author, Counsel to the President, Clark Clifford's memoir, as well as a volume of The Pentagon Papers. He holds over 20 honorary degrees and numerous awards, including several Nobel Peace Prize nominations. A Board Member at the Council on Foreign Relations, he serves on the boards of AIG, the American Museum of Natural History, the National Endowment for Democracy and Refugees International. Holbrooke is Chairman of the Asia Society. He is the Founding Chairman of The American Academy in Berlin, a center for U.S.-German cultural exchange, and President and CEO of the Global Business Council, the business alliance against HIV/AIDS. He is currently Vice Chairman of Perseus, a leading private equity firm and writes a monthly column for the Washington Post.
Interested in booking Richard Holbrooke to speak at your next event?
Difficult assignments are nothing new to the man who was chief negotiator at the 1995 Dayton Peace Agreement, which ended the war in Bosnia and for which he has received numerous awards, including seven Nobel Peace Prize nominations. His best-selling account of that historic negotiation, To End a War, was named one of the eleven best books of 1998 by The New York Times.
In addition to his long career in diplomatic service, Holbrooke's experience includes stints as vice chairman of CS First Boston and as managing director of Lehman Brothers, where he utilized his leadership and strategic planning expertise to guide their growth nationally and globally.
He describes negotiating tactics and styles, giving invaluable insight into the use of teamwork, perseverance, bluff, bluster and preparation to achieve corporate and personal goals. Drawing on his experience with highly volatile situations, he discusses managing crises through leadership and determination. Sharing behind-the-scenes stories of delicate international negotiations, Holbrooke enlightens audiences with the considerations that must be taken when guiding vital American national interests.
Holbrooke served as the U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, where he was also a member of President Clinton's cabinet, from 1999 to 2001. In that capacity and others, he played a central role in the development of U.S. policy toward the United Nations, the Balkans, Africa, Asia, the Middle East and humanitarian crisis issues such as AIDS.
As Assistant Secretary of State for Europe from 1994 to 1996, Holbrooke was chief architect of the momentous 1995 Dayton peace agreement that ended the war in Bosnia. From 1993 to 1994 he was U.S. Ambassador to Germany. He later served as President Clinton's Special Envoy to Bosnia and Kosovo and as Special Envoy to Cyprus on a pro-bono basis while a private citizen. From 1977 to 1981 he was Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs and was in charge of U.S. relations with China when Sino-American relations were normalized in 1978. After joining the Foreign Service in 1962, he held assignments in Vietnam, the State Department and the Johnson White House.
Holbrooke has written numerous articles and two books: To End a War, a memoir of the Dayton negotiations, and, as co-author, Counsel to the President, Clark Clifford's memoir, as well as a volume of The Pentagon Papers. He holds over 20 honorary degrees and numerous awards, including several Nobel Peace Prize nominations. A Board Member at the Council on Foreign Relations, he serves on the boards of AIG, the American Museum of Natural History, the National Endowment for Democracy and Refugees International. Holbrooke is Chairman of the Asia Society. He is the Founding Chairman of The American Academy in Berlin, a center for U.S.-German cultural exchange, and President and CEO of the Global Business Council, the business alliance against HIV/AIDS. He is currently Vice Chairman of Perseus, a leading private equity firm and writes a monthly column for the Washington Post.
Interested in booking Richard Holbrooke to speak at your next event?
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- Inside the U.N.: Why It Matters; What
- How and Why Foreign Policy Matters to Business
- Humanitarian Issues - AIDS, Refugees - Why They Matter to All of Us
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